What do media do to people? And what do people do with media? These are two main questions in communication science. Since the beginning of the previous century, many theories have been developed that address these questions and much empirical research has been conducted to test them. The course “Introduction to Communication Science” will introduce you to these theories and connect them to current novel insights, contemporary problems, and cutting-edge research within communication science. Various areas of communication science are highlighted, such as health communication, political communication and journalism, and entertainment.

During this course you will receive answers to the questions: How is news created and how does the news shape our worldview? How do media bias and misinformation affect our worldview? How do we create our own information environment? How do we process information, and how are we influenced by it? Does entertainment make us more aggressive and fearful? How do media affect children’s social development and wellbeing? The media/audience relationship: who is in control? How are media transforming in the digital age? Why is behaviour change so difficult to achieve? How are we persuaded by technology?

Next to acquiring basic knowledge you will develop the academic skills you need to analyse communication science related phenomena.